As so many foodies have said before me, pumpkin is an ingredient pigeonholed to October and November. Do you ever see a pumpkin pie at Easter or reach for a piping hot pumpkin spice latte in July? No.

But why is it, my friends, that we get so excited when it is pumpkin time? We love it. We go pumpkin nuts.

I hated pumpkin for many years, but now I can totally say, after trying a pumkpin cheesecake, that I am a convert. And since last December, when Starbucks traded pumpkin for peppermint, I've longed for the spicy comfort of this seasonal standout.

Well, I will wait no longer. Fall is upon us, Halloween is seven weeks away and it's pumpkin time. So whip out a can and make these chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, and feel pretty good about them, because I've made them healthier for you.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

What ya need (for 14 muffins)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup water

1.5 cups AP flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

What ya do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper lining.

2. Mix sugar, oil and eggs. Add the pumpkin and water and continue to mix. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt.

3. Pour wet mixture into dry and stir together. Don't overmix these little guys! Slowly fold in the chocolate chips, using up to 1 cup if you prefer

4. Fill cups 2/3 full of batter and bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes!

Fall is also my favorite time of year...we are just waiting for it to happen here in Texas! And I love pumpkin muffins more than any baked good (truly!) These look delicious AND healthy...a winning combo in my book!

I'm trying to hold out as long as I can for the wonderful veggie (or is it a fruit?) that is pumpkin.. a blessing in disguise I'm on business for the next 2 weeks without a kitchen! :( I'm totally with you on everything pumpkin though.. I even had a pumpkin spice latte today :)

We love pumpkin muffins! Actually, we are with you, just about pumpkin anything. These looks perfect for some lunch box snacks for the kids for school. Wish my daughter had not seen you post... she is now after me to put up Halloween Decorations! I'm not ready!And... Congrats on a well deserved Top 9!

Fall is my favorite season too... all the leaves change here right around my birthday (10 days before Halloween). Pumpkin chip muffins are my husband's very favorite. I accidentally doubled the pumpkin when I made them once, and now we do it that way every time. :)

Fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I completely agree with you! These muffins look awesome. I am definitely going to have to try them. I always repost things I try from other bloggers, but I always link back to the original blogger, just FYI! Congrats on making the Top 9!

I Love that first picture! So cute! I am featuring lots of pumpkin recipes on my blog (www.newlywife.com) next month. But, what I really came to say, was if you love pumpkin, then you need to try out this amazing Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe from Stef ODea (A Year of Slowcooking) http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-pumpkin-spice-latte-recipe.html